Labeling mechanism



Oct. 7, 1941. s. T. CARTER 2,257,785 LABELING MECHANISM Original FiledJan. 19, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1941. r s. T. CARTER 2,257,785 I LABELING MECHANISMOriginal Filed Jan. 19, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS S. T. CARTER LABELING MECHANISM Oct. 7, 1941.

ori inal Fild Jan. 19, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 7, 1941. s R 72,257,785

LABELING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 19, 1940 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR.

l'e/rlqy Cof/r 7720a ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1941. s, CARTER 2,257,785

LABELING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 19, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR.

BY Jib/Hey. W000 M ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1941;

S. T. CARTER LABELING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 19, 1940 6Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1941 LABELING MECHANISM Sidney T. Carter, NewKensington, Pa... assignor to Schenley Distillers Corporation, New York,N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application January 19, 1940,Serial No. 314,595. Divided and this application July 27,

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved mechanism for labelingbottles and other containers.

One of the objects oi the invention is to provide means for applyingglue or other adhesive to substantially the entire label, so as to applysaid adhesive to parts of. the label which are not supplied withadhesive by the present conventional type of equipment.

Another object of the invention is to connect the edges of a pack oflabels by relatively weak means and then to separate the labels fromsaid pack, one by one, and to apply the separated labels to the bottleor other container. Said connecting means may be adhesive, but othermeans can be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment or part of alabeling machine, which machine may be otherwise of conventionalconstruction, Without limiting the invention to any conventionallabeling machine, my invention can be utilized in connection with thetype of labeling machine which is shown in U. S. Patents No. 1,622,381and No. 1,901,101.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which willeliminate the use 01' prongs for supporting the labels in the label box.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 314,595,filed in the U. S. Patent Oillce on January 19, 1940.

Other objects of the invention will be stated in the followingdescription and drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a holder in which the labels of a packare connected to each other at the edges of said labels, prior to usingthe labels in the labeling machine.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the prepared pack of labels, detachedfrom the holder which is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation which shows how a label has been applied to abottle or other container, according to the invention. The areasindicated inxbroken lines are free from adhesive and the remainder ofthe inner surface of the label is covered with adhesive.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation showing the upper part of the holder whichis used for holding the pack of labels in the labeling machine. Fig. 4also shows certain associated parts.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail elevation, partially in section, showingthe plunger for maintaining the pack of labels under pressure, in thelabeling machine.

1940, Serial No. 347,946

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail side elevation show ing the holder for thepack of labels, the essential mechanism associated with said holder, andthe picker mechanism for removing the labels from the holder, one byone.

Fig. 'I is a plan view, partially in section, on the line 'l-l of Fig.6.

F1Fig7. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of 9 is a sectional viewon the line 9-9 of Fig. 10 is an end view on the line l0l|i of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the fingers whichreleasably support the pack of labels at the bottom thereof. It alsoshows the essential mechanism which is associated with said fingers.

Fig. 12 is a plan view, partially in section, on the line i2-I2 of Fig.13.

Fig. 13 is a view generally similar to Fig. 6, showing a modification ofthe invention.

Fig. 14 is an elevation taken on the line IF of Fig. 13. I

The conventional labeling machine does not apply glue to all parts ofthe label, Said conventional labeling machine fails to apply adhesive toapproximately seven spaced areas of the label. Due to the constructionof the conventional label box and the construction of the conventionalpickers, it is necessary to supply the label box with supporting prongswhich have hook-points. Since these points extend under the bottom ofthe label pack, it is necessary to cut corresponding slots in thepickers, in'order to provide proper clearance and in order to enable thepickers to contact with the bottom label of the pack. Since the pickerstransfer glue from the faces of said pickers to the label by contact,the label only receives glue on that area which corresponds to theunslotted faces of the pickers.

The presence of these numerous unglued areas on the label isobjectionable in certain types 01 bottles. This applies particularly tothe horizontal areas of the label which extend inwardly from thevertical edges of the label, in those bottles where the label is appliedto a curved surface. Any section of the label which is not fastened tothe bottle by glue will stretch and cause a bulge, when the labelabsorbs moisture by a change in temperature or relative humidity of theair. These bulges are very pronounced on those labels which are appliedto curved'bottles. The bulge is always parallel to the unglued area. Ifthe section of the label which has the unglued area nounced and thisspoils the appearance of the .package. It is not so important to applyglue continuously at the top edge and at the bottom edge of the label,because; as a rule, that part of thej is slightlycurved, the presence;ofungl'ued seen at the top edge and'bottom edge of the label is notsubstantially objectionable.

horizontal unglued areas at or adjacentthe vertical edges of the'label.i As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,- prio'r" to usingljthe;

labels in the labeling machine, said labels "are p prepared in stacks orpacks, eachof whichzcan: vchine contain any suitable numberof'-labels,"such as one thousand. The holder which is shown in Fig. 1

is fastened the curved face of the bottle, the resultant double curve ofthelabel is very proare removed from the bottom of the pack. In

- bottle is plananf {Even i'fjthis part1ofi'theibottleff According to myinvention, I eliminate the;

or other suitable material. A plate 2 is fixed to this wall l-. Afollower plate 3, which can be made of cardboard or other suitablematerial, is lo.-

. cated at the'top of the stack ofslabels. The labottom plate I, whichis fixed to' rods 4 correspond to the respective prongsof the label box,so that said rods will indicate the respective proper positions forapplying thin vertical layers of glue G to the edges of the labels. Thebottom plate 5 is provided with a pair of opposed slots 6, one of whichis shown in Fig. 1.

A cardboard 'sheet can be located between the bottom of the pack oflabels and the supporting plate 5. Pressure can be applied to the packof labels, by means of the thumb screw 1, which passes through a tappedopening in the fixed plate 2. Narrow strips of glue 0; other adhesive Gare then applied to three of the faces ofthestack of labels while thepack is held under pressure by thumb-screw 'l. The'labels which arelocated in this gluing box are preferably located upside down.

After the glue has dried and set, the pack of labels can be removed fromthe holder and the cardboard sheets ,at the top and bottom of the packof labels can be easily cut away.

If desired, drops of the glue can be applied at the top of the pack, atthe points corresponding to the tops of the vertical strips G, afterpressurehas been appliedupon the top cardboard sheet 3, by means of thethumb-screw "l. The glue can then run down by gravity alongthe threesides of the pack of labels. The pack of labels is held vertical whilethe liquid glue is applied, and until the liquid glue has set, so thateach label is in a horizontal plane during the operation. This controlsthe thickness of the strips of glue, and it permits the operator toapply the strips of glue G to the three sides of the pack of labels,before theglue dries. If a heavy coating of glue is required, aheavy-bodied glue is used, and vice versa.

The adhesion between the individual labels and the adhesive which isapplied to the pickersyis:

sufllciently greatto enable the labels to beseparated, one by one, fromthis pre-glued pack. The

pickers are introduced at the bottom of the pack of labels, atv theverticalwall of ,the pack which is free from the striped adhesive. Aseach label is removed from the pickers, thev adhesive of the strips Grolls up at two of the sides ofithe pack of labels. At the other side orupstanding wall I of thepackof labelsQthe adhesive hangs below 75 thelabeling machine, the longitudinal axis of the pack of labels is held atan angle of about to the vertical axis, so that the bottom flat label aes a a g e 9. about w th th rha plane; This,gives"'clearance;- so%thatthe strips of glue'atthe rear wall of the pack of labels can hang down,free from the mechanism.

"As a pack of labels which has thus been prepared gisgjused, anadditional pack or packs are added to the topof the pack which is beingused. 'l'he 'a'dditional pack or packs can be connected oth'enjby meansof a quick-drying glue. erniits continuous operation of the mause anytype of liquid book-binding I Prefer to use a flexible adhesive, inorder to allow the pack of labels to move freely and als'oto' allow'forvariations, be-

cause brlttle glue has a tendencytocrack and to allow the labels toseparate. Since the glue or adhesive is applied-at three sides of thepack of labels while said labels are pressed together under substantialpressure, the glue of adhesive adheres only to the edges of the labelsof the pack. When the labels are picked one by one from the bottom ofthe pack, there'are'no'marks on the label which can be noticed on thebottle or container. Y

The adhesive which is thus applied to three sides or walls of the packof labels, only acts to maintain the packas a unit, so that the pack canbe suitably controlled in the-label 'box. When" the pickers open, anyslight variation in the} glue on the surfaces of the pickers which areremoving the bottom label, would ordinarily cause the bottom label toslip to one side with'one of the pick-- ers. By connecting the pack oflabels so as to form a single unit, each label is automatically held inposition relative to the other labels of the pack, until the pickerspull the bottom or end label away from the pack.

As shown in Fig. 2, each label L may be provided with a tab T at oneface thereof.

Referring to Fig. 7, the label holder in the machine, to which the packof labels is transferred, comprises spaced bars 8, la, 8b and 8c. Thebars 8 are connected to a supporting bar 9. This supporting bar 8 has ahub Ill which is provided with an interior thread. The hub I0 is a splithub and it is tightened by the screw I2, so that the interior thread ofthe hub l0 engages with the corresponding outer thread of the adjustingshaft H. The bars lb areconnected to, a second supporting bar I, whosehub I5 and screw I6 respectively correspond to the hub l0 and the screw[2.

each other or away from each other.

The adjusting shaft II is journalled in bear '5 lugs 11 and I8 which arerespectively integral with arms" and 20. -'A collar 2| is suitablyclamped or connected to the adjusting shaft ll at one side of thebearing IT.' A hub 22 of a knurled head 23 is 3 also clamped orconnected to the adjusting'shaft ll. The-adjusting shaft II is thus{prevented from shiftinglongitudinally:

relative to the bearings I! and I debut- 1 prefer touse a flexibleadhesive, such has a rigid wall I which may be made of-metal w as latexor the like.

ass-mas The arm I9 is integral with a hub 24, which is adjustablyclamped to a rod -26 by means of a set screw 26.

The arm 26 has an integral hub 21, which is adjustably clamped by meansof a set screw 26 to the rod 29. The rods 26 and 26 respectively passthrough the hubs 24 and 21.

The rods 26 and 29 are connected in the same manner to the frame'F ofthe machine.

As shown in Fi 6, one end of the rod 29 is held in the bore of a casting66, which has an angular shape. The frame F has an arm 6|. The casting66 is integral with a hub 62. A rod 69 passes through said hub 62. Saidrod 66 is integral with the frame F, or it is suitably connected to theframe F. The hub 62 can be adjusted on the rod 96, by means of theadjusting screw 34, whose tip abuts the member 3|. A lock-nut 95maintains the hub 62 in the desired adjusted position. Said adjustingscrew 24 passes through a tapped opening of casting 96.1

The arms 6c are connected to a supporting arm 36, which has integralhubs 61 and 66. The rods 26 and 29 pass respectively through said hubs61 and 36. Set screws 99 and 40 respectively clamp the hubs 31 and 66,in suitable respective adjusted positions, on the respective rods 26 and29.

The rod 6a is connected to a supporting arm H, which isconnected by apivot pin 42 to a collar 43, which is held adiustably on the rod 29. Thecollar 49 is clamped to the rod 29, in the desired adjusted position, bymeans of a suitable set screw (not shown).

The aforesaid members 6, 6a, 6b and 60 thus form a chute or holder whichhas no bottom.

Referring to Fig. 11, the stack of labels is supported at its bottom, bymeans of fingers 44 and 4411. These supporting fingers are identical andthey are operated by identical mechanisms. The finger 44 is rigidly heldbetween an angular plate 46 and a second plate 46, by means of screws41. Plate 46 has an arm I46 and plate 46 has an arm 49. The arm I46 isintegral with a bearing 56. A pivot pin 5| is located in the bearing 50and in the bore of the arm 49.

As shown in Fig. 7, this pin 5| is also supported in bearings 52 of thepivoted arm 4|.

One end of th helical compression spring 69 abuts the upper end of thefinger 44. The other end of said spring 59 abuts the arm H, as shown,

in Figs. 6, 7 and 12.

Referring to Fig. 11, one end of the arm I46 abuts the nose 64 of acollar 65, which is mounted turnably on the rod 29. The arm I46 has apin 66 which is connected by means of a tension spring 51, to the pin 56of the nose 54.

One end of a hook-shaped rod 59 is connected to the collar 65. At theproper time, the rod 69 is moved by one of the pickers, so as to turnthe hub 55 on the rod 29, thus raising the nose As shown in Fig. 'l, thearm I46 is inclined to the rod 29, andsaid arm I46 is oflset relative toarm 4I. Therefore, when the free end of the arm I46 is raised by thenose 54, the finger 44 is turned relative to the axis of the pivot pin5I, thus releasing the bottom of the stack of labels.

The spring 59a corresponds to the spring 66, the arm I46a corresponds tothearm I46, etc.

The mechanism for operating the pickers is old and well-known per se, sothat said mechanism is not illustrated in the drawings.

Generally speaking, there are two pickers other container, in order toapp y the label to the Adhesive is applied to the bottle or container.transfer faces or operating faces of the pickers while they abut eachother and before the transfer faces of the pickers are moved to contactwith the bottomlabel of the pack.

Fig. 10 shows the pickers 66 and 66a when they are separated laterallyfrom each other. The full-line position of the pickers .which is shownin Fig. 6, shows the pickers spaced from-thei'pack of labels. The upperbroken-line position of the pickers, shows them contacting withthe-bottom label of the pack. The lower or right hand broken-lineposition of the pickers, shows them applying the label to the bottle B.

The pickers 69 and 660 are respectively connected to arms 6| and 6| a.

As shown in Fig. 6, the arm 6Ia is mounted turnably upon a rod or shaft62. Fig.6 showsthe rolls 69 and 64, by means of which adhesive isapplied to the full transfer faces of the pickers. The transfer roll 64is connected to the arm 66, which is connected to the shaft 66 intheusual manner.

The mechanism for applying glueor other adhesive to the pickers iswholly conventional. As the pickers are swung upwardly towards the packof labels, the roll 64 is actuated by arm 66, so as to apply theadhesive over the entire transfer pickers are raised above the otherparts of :said

pickers, in order to limit the application. of "the adhesive. This isalso conventional.

Referring to Fig. 9, when the pickers are moved to make initial contactwith the bottomlabel, said pickers abut each other at their adjacentedges, so that the pickers pass between the-hook ends of the members 59and 69afwithout actuating said members 69 and 69a. After the pickerscontact with the bottom label of the stack, said pickers are movedlaterally away from each other, thus moving the members 69 and 66a fromthe full-line positions which are shown in Fig. 9, to the broken-linepositions shown in Fig. 9. The collars 55 and 66:: are thus turned, thusmoving the fingers 44 and 44a away from their operative positions, sothat said fingers 44 and 44a wholly release the pack of labels, whichpack then-rests upon the faces of the pickers to which the adhesive hasbeen applied.

When the pickers are thus moved laterally away from each other, theiradhesive is distributed evenly over the entire face of the bottom label,

save for the small areas of the bottom labelwhich located in saidnotches when the pickers -are moved to make their initial contact withthe bottom label of the stack. The notches are then arranged in pairs,each notch 88 being associated with a notch 88c.

When the label is applied to the bottle or other container by thepickers, the pickers are held stationary, and a stripper finger 88 isthen moved between the laterally separated pickers so as to strip thelabel from the pickers, when the pickers are moved away from the bottle.The stripper finger 59 is pivotally connected at 18 in the usual manner,to the usual arm ll.

Referring to Fig. 3, the areas 12 and 12a correspond to the pairs ofnotches 88 and 880 which receive the fingers l8 and a.

Therefore, the label does not have any adhesive at the areas 12 and 12a,but adhesive is fully applied to the label along its vertical edges, andto the remainder of the area of the label, with the exception of areas12 and 12a.

Referring to Fig. 4, the follower plate I8 is pivotally connected to therod 14, which reciprocates in a guide bore of the plate 15, which isconnected to the frame F.

As shown in Fig. 5, the upper end of the rod 14 is threaded to acup-shaped bushing 16. A compression spring 11 is located in saidbushing 15. The upper end of the spring 11 abuts the head ll of a pin 19which extends through a guide bore in the end wall of the bushing 18.

A plate 88 is slidably mounted on a rod 8|, which is connected to theplate 15. The rod 8| preferably has a square or other non-circularcross-section. The plate 88 is provided with a bore 82 which hasthe samecross-section as the rod 8|. The axis of the bore 82 is inclined to thelongitudinal axis of the rod 8|.

The tilting of the plate 80 relative to the rod 8l is thus limited. Asthe labels are removed one by one, the weight of the plate 80 causes thesame .to tilt and to slide downwardly on rod 8|, as shown in brokenlines in Fig. 4, so that the plate 80 always exerts pressure against thepin 18, and through the compression spring TI, against the rod 14. v

Means are provided for holding the pack of labels at the upstandingwalls of said pack, when the fingers and a are moved so as to releasethe pack.

As shown in Fig. 8,'a cam 88 is mounted for limited turning movement onthe rod 28. As shown in Figs. '6 and 7, the hub of this can 88 has aradial projection 88, to which a pull rod 85 is pivotally connected.

When the fingers l8 and a are moved to the release position, the rod 85isautomatically pulled so as to turn the cam 83. This cam 88 operates incombination with the usual cam roll 85, which has a stud which istumable in a bearing of the arm ll. I

Therefore, as the fingers 84 and a release the pack of labels, the armII is automatically turned on its pivot 82, in order to press the bar 8aagainst the corresponding upstanding wall of the pack of labels, so thatthe pack of labels is clamped between the bar 8a and the opposite bars80.

One'end of a tension spring 81 is connected to the pin 88 of a collar89, which is adjustably clamped to the rod 26 by means of a set screw88. The other end of the spring 81 is connected to the stud of the camroll 88, so that the cam roll 88 is maintained continuously in contactwith the eam surface of the cam 83. 1

In the second embodiment which is shown in Figs. 12-14, and as shown inFig. 14, the picker Ila is-rigidly held. The arm of the picker Ila hasan extension 82, in which an angular rod II is rigidly held.

I As shown in Fig. 12, rods 88 and 880 are re- :pectlvely clamped to thefingers 88 and a. Control rods 84 and a are respectively adjustablyclamped in bores of the rods 88 and 88a, by means of clamping screws .88and I80. I

These control rods 88 and 88a have the bent or angular shape which isshown in Fig. 13.

When the pickers move into contact with the bottom label of the pack,and before the abutting pickers are laterally separated, the members lland Ola will respectively contact with the members 88 and 840, thusreleasing the fingers 44 and a, so that the pickers contact fully withthe entire face of the bottom label. According to the second embodiment,the adhesive is therefore applied over the entire face of the label,including the areas 12 and 12a. In the second embodiment it is thereforeunnecessary to provide slots or notches in the pickers, foraccommodating the fingers l4 and a.

In the first embodiment, arm II is operated to c amp the stack of labelsat two opposed upstanding walls, Just as the pickers are moved laterallyapart. The pull-rod 85 is connected to the same mechanism which movesthe pickers laterally away from each other.

In the second embodiment, the picker-operating mechanism operatespull-rod 88 in order to clamp the stack of labels as the pickers movedthe fingers H and a to their inoperative position. In each embodiment,the bottom label of the stack is always allowed to move to the samepredetermined inclined plane, so that the pickers always contact with abottom label which is in said predetermined position.

The fingers 88 and a, when they return to operative position, alwayssupport the pack of labels with its bottom label in predeterminedposition, even though the height of the pack decreases.

The mechanism for operating the pickers is well-known and conventionalper se.

The adhesive which I prefer to use, because of its flexibility, is latexor a latex composition, such as "National adhesive No. 9005A. This latexor latex composition may be or may not be prevulcanized. It is used inthe form of a thick liquid, which dries at ordinary temperature of about70 F. When it dries, it forms a very thin and flexible film, which canbe stripped if desired, from the pack of labels, thus leaving the labelsin their original unconnected condition, free from any marks. This typeof adhesive will not disintegrate under the impact of the pickers.

The drawings show my invention applied to a well known commercial typeof labeling machine, which is known as the Economic type.

For example, the invention shows numerous available sub-combinationswhich need not be operative per se and which can be used in connectionwith various types of machines.

It will be noted that the holding fingers 48 and a are normally biasedto their operative positions by means of the springs 53 and 58a.

The holding means which include the movable bar 8a, clamp or grip thestack of labels along its entire height, so that the stack of labels isgripped above the bottom label. Said holding means are normally biasedto inoperative posi- 88 has an extension 82a in which an angular rodtion by means of the spring 81. I have shown preferred embodiments of myinvention but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can bemade without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, achute which is adapted to hold a stack oflabels, movable holding means associated with said chute and adapted tohold the stack of labels with the bottom label.

and with the bottom label of'the stack in a predetermined position whensaid first .movable holding means are in operative position, said firstmovable holding means releasing said stack of labels when said firstmovable holding means are in inoperative position, second movableholding means which are movable relative to said chute,

said second movable holding means being movable to an operative positionin which said second movable holding means hold the stack of labelsabove the bottom of the stack, fixed'relative to the chute, said secondmovable holding means stack of labels.

3. In a labeling machine, a chute which is adapted to hold a stack oflabels, first movable holding means associated with said' chute andmovable relative to the chute to an inoperative position, said firstmovable holding means holding the stack of labels fixed relative to thechute and with the-bottom label of the stack in a predetermined positionwhen said first movable holding means are in operative position, saidfirst movable holding means releasing said stack of labels when saidfirst movable holding means are in inoperative position, second movableholding means which are movable relative to said chute, said secondmovable holding means being movable to an operative position in whichsaid second movable holding means hold the stack of labels abovethebottom of the stack, fixed relative to the chute, said second movableholding means being movable relative to the chute to release the stackof labels, said stack of labels having additional frangible holdingmeans connecting the labels of said stack to each other, said frangibleholding means being suflicientiy weak so that the bottom label of thestack can be removed from the stack without substantial injury to saidbottom label.

SIDNEY 'r. CARTER.

